Driving means for axminster tube frame conveyer systems



Jan, 9, 1951 w. Y. ROBB DRIVING MEANS FOR AXMINSTER TUBE FRAME CONVEYER SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1948 .lNVENTOR WALTER Y. ROBE ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1951 W. Y. ROBB DRIVING MEANS FOR AXMINSTER TUBE FRAME COD IVEYER SYSTEMS Filed Feb. 10, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 9, 1951 DRIVING MEANS FOR AXIWINSTER TUBE FRAME CONVEYER SYSTEMS Walter Y. Robb, Whitinsville, Masa, assignor t Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worceste Mass, acorporation of Massachusetts Application February 10, 1948, Serial No. 7,433

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in driving mechanism for the tube frame conveyor systoms of Axminster looms.

Axminster looms ordinarily operate with a large number of tube frames which move one at a time to a transfer station. Part of the mechanism for moving the tube frame system includes a pullover shaft which rocks periodically to place the tube frames in position for detachment from the chains by a transfer arm. The pullover shaft generally is desirable to move the greater part of the SYS- moves at least part of the system by power detem continuously and move only a small part, of it periodically. When applying the present inven tion to such looms the motor will have two driving connections for the conveyor system, one providing the periodic movement for the small part of the system and the other providing the continuous movement for the greater part of the system.

One type of Axminster loom which has gone into extensive use is so constructed that the pullover shaft rocks through about /5 of the threepick cycle of theloom when the latter is operating three-shot. When the present inventionds applied to such loomsI find it desirable'to employ eccentric or elliptical gearing between the driving motor and the pin wheel of the Geneva motion Heretofore the pullover shaft has been given 7 its periodic angular motions by pawls and ratchets which are not as accurate as is desired in their have been necessary to open the brakes to permit rocking of the shaft. It is difficult, however, to time the releasers so they will open the brakes at the right time relatively to rocking of the pullover shaft, and the loom, or motor for the system, is required to start movement of the shaft while the brakes are still on. It is an important object of the present invention to provide a Geneva movement which will rock the pullover shaft periodically and lock the shaft between successive rockings thereof, but unlock the shaft at the start of a rocking movement of the pullover shaft.

When a motor drives the entire conveyor system it must present the tube frames to the transfer station at a rate coordinated with the rate of operation of th loom. It is another object of the invention to provide timer means to keep the motor in step-with the loom. 1

In narrow Axminster looms in which the tube frames are short the system can be moved periodically throughout its length, and when the present invention is applied to such looms the pin wheel of a Geneva motion supplies the power to move all of the conveyor system. In wider looms utilizing tube frames of much greater length the convey'or system attains a considerable weight and it so that the pin wheel will rock the pullover shaft in about of a three-pick cycle of the loom. It is to be understood, however, that certain features of the invention are not limited to such looms;

It is necessary in the weavingof certain pat-f terns to be able to reverse the conveyor system, preferably when the pin wheel is not moving the star wheel. Since the pin wheel will have a,con1-' siderable amount of idle angular movement the reversal may occur eitherwhen the pin wheel has just left the star wheel, or is about to engage it'. These two positions will represent different amounts of angular movement of the pinwh'eel and its driving motor with respect --to the loom and a reversal might be accompanied bya loss of time between the pin-wheel and the loom such that the first rocking of the pullover shaft after reversal would notoccur at the correct point in the loom cycle. It'is another object of thepres ent invention to provide clutch 'means forming part of the reversing mechanism which will insure proper timing of the Geneva movement with re spect to the loom when reversed regardless of the amount of idle angular movement of the pin wheel after its last operation of the star wheel.

From time to time it is necessary to remove the spent tube frames and replace them with a new set with fully wound spools while the loom is'idle. Movement of the conveyor system under these conditions is-effected by the electric motor, but upon completion of the insertion of a new-set of tube frames the pin wheel and motor which drives it should be connectible to the loom in the same angular or timed relation which existed during the previous loom operation. In order to accom plish this result it is a further object of the present invention to provide clutch means between the aforesaid timer and the loom so constructed that the timer'and therefore the motor andpin 3 wheel can be re-connected to the loom at one point only in the three-pick cycle, that point being correct for the resumption of weaving.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein two forms of the invention are shown:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an Axminster loom as viewed from the left end thereof having the preferred form of the invention applied thereto in such manner that the Geneva movement moves the entire chain periodically,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the Geneva movement and associated parts shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view partly in section looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 2,

, Fig. 4 is a front elevation looking in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 2, showing the reversing mechanism for the pullover shaft,

. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the pin and star wheel with the latter locked by the pin wheel,

Fig. 7 is a detailed plan view looking in the direction of arrow 1, Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section on line.

the modified form of the invention applied to aloom having a heavy tubeframe conveyor system part of which is driven periodically and part of which is driven continuously by the driving motor.

Referring to Fig. l, a conventional narrow Axminster loom is designated at L and includes a bottom shaft I0 driven by a loom motor LM and completing a rotation thereof each three picks of the loom when the later is weaving three-shot fabric.

invention as contemplated in Fig. l is to a loom in which .the system CS will be comparatively light, said system may be tight throughout its length and have its endless chains I! trained overseveral guide sheaves or pulleys l2 and under a. pullover shaft l3. The latter is suitably supported by the loom and its general function may be as usual, that is, it rocks periodically toadvanoe the chains H to move tube framesi l one by one to a transfer station S under shaft !3. System CS may be mounted on a frame F supported in part by the loom and in part by uprights l5. 7

The matter thus far described is somewhat similar to looms of corresponding types heretofore proposed, but in these previous looms the pullover shaft has been given periodic movements by power derived from the loom motor LM. In the present instance the entire conveyor system CS is moved by power derived from a conveyor motor CM running continuously during loom A number of mechanisms not germane .to the present invention are operated by cams operation and suitably mounted on a stand 29 supported by the loom. This motor may have a reversible built-in gear reduction unit not shown having an output shaft 2i which will complete a rotation every third pick of the loom when the latter is operating three-shot.

Shaft 2| has secured thereto an elliptic gear 22 which meshes with a second elliptic gear 23 secured to a short shaft 24 suitably mounted for rotation on the loom frame. As shown in Fig. 3 that end of shaft 23 adjacent to the motor GM has secured thereto a pin wheel having an operating pin 26 and a locking surface 27 concentric with shaft 25, see Fig. 6.

The pullover shaft is is driven by a star wheel 30 which cooperates with the pin wheel and in the present instance is shown as provided with six pin receiving slots 3! and six locking sur faces 32 of the same radius as the lock 21 of the pin wheel. The star wheel is loose on the pullover shaft and turns with a bevel gear 35 meshing with a second bevel gear 35 rotatable on a stud 3? turning in a bearing 38 secured as at 39 to the loom frame. Bevel gear 36 meshes with a third bevel gear 30 also loose on shaft 13.

A clutch s1 keyed to shaft 13 is slidable along the latter so that it can be clutched to either of the bevel gears 35 or 43, one at a time. The clutch is under control of an arm 43 rocking about a pivot 4 supported by the loom, see Fig. 4. The clutch can assume a neutral position in which it is out of driving relation with either of the bevel gears 35 or 4B, but in normal loom operation it will be operatively connected to one or the other of these two bevel gears.

A motor CM tends to turn shaft 2| slightly faster than one revolution for each three picks of the loom, but is prevented from doing so by a timer mechanism designated generally at T. This mechanism may include a sprocket wheel 45 secured to shaft 25 and meshing with a timing chain 45 trained over idler sprockets d? and 48 and meshing with a sprocket wheel 49 sup ported by the main bottom shaft IQ of the loom, see Fig. 7. Sprocket wheel 49 is formed with a clutch member 5a having a tooth 5i and a recess 52 for meshing respectively with a recess 53 and tooth 54 of a second clutch member 55 keyed to and slidable along shaft (8. Clutch member 53 can'be operatively connected to clutch member 55 in only one angular position of sprocket wheel 59 relatively to shaft i0.

Clutch member 55 may be controlled by a lever 55 pivoted with respect to the loom at 51 and having a rod 58 leading to a handle 59, see Figs. 1 and '7. During normal loom operation handle 59 will be in such position as to cause clutch members 5B and 55 to mesh with each other, but when a new set of tube frames is to be applied to the conveyor system CS the handle 59 will be moved to its abnormal position to disconnect the clutch members 5d and 55, thereby permitting the motor CM to run independently of the loom. When weaving a heading between rugs clutch members and may be separated and motor CM stopped, or clutch 4! can be moved to neutral position.

In the operation of the matter thus far described it may be assumed that shaft 10 turns counterclockwise, Fig. 1, clutch l! is clutched to bevel gear 35, and the conveyor system CS is moving in a forward direction as indicated by arrow at in Fig. 1. Shaft 24 will be turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 by the motor CM and the pin of the pin wheel will enter the star wheel slots 3| successively to give the pullover shaft l3 periodic rocking movements in a counterclockwise direction occurring at three-pick intervals. During the active part of the rotation of the pin wheel when it is moving the star wheel the lock surface 21 is in non-locking relation with respect to the star wheel, but upon completion of the angular movement of the star wheel by the pin wheel, and during the idle part of the rotation of the pin wheel, said surface 21 will engage one or the other of the concave surfaces on the star wheel and lock the latter and therefore the pullover shaft against angular movement. This locking dispenses with the brakes already mentioned hereinbefore. If desired, how ever," a light weight brake can be used, but it will not be nearly as strong as those used heretofore. When the system CS is reversed the motorCM and the Geneva movement will continue to turn as previously, and reversal of shaft l3 will be effected by shifting clutch 4| out of driving relation with respect to bevel gear 35 and into driving relation with bevel gear 40. The conveyor system will then move in the direction opposite to that indicated by arrow a, Fig. 1. Since the conveyor system including the tube frame transporting chains is tight throughout its length it will be moved in its entirety by the pin wheel, and the timer means 'I will require themovements of the pullover shaft to be coordinated with the other partsof the loom.

. When reversin the direction of movement of the system CS it is necessary to maintain the correct time relation between the star wheel and the loom. This result I accomplish by forming each end of the clutch 4| with six teeth 50 of the same width equally spaced by recesses BI, and forming the bevel gears 35 and 49 with similar teeth and recesses. occur after the last rocking of the pullover shaft and star wheel for a given direction of movement of the system CS. The star Wheel will therefore be locked by the locking surface 27 of the pin wheel, and since it is locked the bevel gears and clutch 4| and pullover shaft l3 will also be locked, but the clutch teeth on the bevel gears 35 and 49 will be opposite their recesses 6| on the clutch and the latter can therefore be shifted from oper-' ative relation with respect to one bevel gear, such as 35, into operative relation with respect to the other bevel gear 46 without loss of angular time between the pullover shaft and the star wheel. The star wheel always turns in the same direction and the clutch 4| is between the star wheel and the pullover shaft.

The invention has been set forth herein as more particularly adaptable to the type of Axminster loom which has gone into general use and wherein the rocking of the pullover shaft occupies about /5 of the time of a three-pick cycle of the loom. In order that the pin wheel may complete its rocking of the star wheel within this of three picks and at the same time preserve correct operating relations between the pin wheel and the star wheel, the degree of ellipticity of gears 22 and 23 is such as will cause the pin wheel to give the star of a turn in of three picks. The efiect of the elliptic gears is to make the pin wheel move somewhat faster than its average rate of movement when driving. the star wheel, and there will be a corresponding retardation in its rate of movement of the pin wheel during its period of idleness with respect to the star wh'e'el; It Will be noted that the pin Wheel turns at a variable rate even though the timer chain The reversal will ordinarily- 46 moves at a uniform rate, and it will also be noted that the reversing mechanism including the bevel gears 35, 36 and 4|! permit the motor to the timer.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 9 the greater 'part of the mechanism thus far described in connection with Figs. 1 to 8 may be utilized, but instead of driving the entire modified chain or conveyor system CS directly from the pullover shaft part of the system is driven at a constant rate by power derived from the motor CM. As shown in Fig. 9, the conveyor system CS comprises chains 10 for the tube frame and has a framework F supporting a relatively long horizontal shaft 12 provided with worms 13, 14, 15 and 15. These worms mesh with worm wheels 11, 18, Hand 80. Sprocket wheels 8| in drivingrelation with the chains 10 turn with the worm wheels and during rotation of shaft 72 effect driving of the greater part of the conveyor system, designated herein at TS and extending from worm wheel 18 to the left around wheels 19 and and then to the right around wheel 11.

Another section PS of theconveyor'system extends around the pullover shaft and its upper part meshes with idler sprocket wheels and 85 caused to turn with each other and in the same direction by a coordinating chain 81. A third idler sprocket 8-8 is located to the left of idler sprocket 86 as viewed in Fig. 9. The sections PS and TS are tight and are connected by front and back wells W and W2 which are formed by slack sections of the conveyor system CS. The part of the conveyor system shown in Fig. 9 thus far described may be of common construction and of itself forms no part Of my present invention. I

In order that shaft 12 may be driven by power derived from motor CM the latter is provided with a bevel gear 90 meshing with a bevel gear 9| secured to the lower end of an upright shaft 92 the upper end of which has secured thereto a driving bevel gear 93. The latter meshes with right and left bevel gears 94 and 95 which are freely rotatable on shaft 12. A clutch 96 similar to clutch 4| is keyed to shaft 12 and slidable therealong to have driving relation with one or the other of the bevel gears 94 or 9-5 one at a time.

Sliding of clutch 9 6 is accomplished by means of a reversing lever 91 connected by a link 98 to lever 43. The reversing mechanism comprising clutch 96 and the bevel gears 93, 94 and 95 are similar in construction and operation to the reversing mechanism already described in connection with Fig. 3, and it is thought a more detailed description of them is not necessary. Link 98 is shown as connected to lever 43 in Fig. 4, but it will not be thus connected in the preferred form of the invention.

In the modified form of the invention the section TS of the conveyor system will be much heavier and. longer than the section PS and it I will be driven at a constant rate by the motor acting through shaft 92 and-clutch 96. The motor 7 provided improved driving means for the pullover shaft of an Axminster tube frame conveyor system wherein a constantly running motor CM moves the entire system. Both forms of the invention utilize a Geneva movement including a star wheel operatively connected to the pullover shaft and a pin wheel which turns constantly under control of the loom. The pin wheel is shown herein as being driven by a motor, but I am not limited to a motor as an actuator for turning the pin wheel. The Geneva movement is made with a lock which prevents turning of the pullover shaft during the idle part of the rtation of the pin wheel. This locking eliminates the heavy brakes previously used on the pullover shaft. Furthermore, the timer '1 limits the speed at which the motor can turn the pullover shaft and therefore coordinates the movements of the star wheel with the loom. It wil-l also be seen that the pullover shaft can be reversed even though the motor, the pin wheel and the star wheel always turn in their same respective directions. Also, when the pullover shaft is reversed the star wheel and bevel gears associated with it will be stationary and since the number of teeth on clutch M is the same as the numbe of slots in the star wheel, the clutch can be shifted without loss of angular time between the star wheel and the pullover shaft. The elliptic gears 22 and 23 cause the pin wheel to turn faster than its average rate when driving the star wheel. Also, the clutches G and 55 prevent the pullover shaft driving mechanism from being timed with the loom in any position except the correct one in which star wheel movements will be properly timed with respect to the loom. Furthermore, in the modified form of the invention, a single driving motor for the entire conveyor system drives a part of the latter at a constant rate and drives another part thereof periodically.

, Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In an Axminster loom having a driving motor and provided with a tube frame conveyor system having two tight sections connected by .two slack sections, a second motor for the conveyor system separate from the driving motor, mechanisms operatively connecting the second motor to said tight sections and effective to cause said second motor to move one tight section periodically and move the other tight section continuously,

and timer means controlled by the driving motor.

regulating the rate of running of the second motor.

2. In an Axminster loom having a driving motor and provided with a tube frame conveyor system having a tight section moved by a pullover shaft and having another tight section movable independently of the first tight section, a second motor running continuously during loom operation, operative connections between the second motor and the first tight section moving the latter periodically during 100m operation, other operative connections between the second motor and the other tight section moving the latter continuously during loom operation, and timer means controlled by the driving motor regulating the rate of running of the second motor.

3. In an Axminster, loom having a tube frame conveyor system part at least of which is moved step-by-step when a pullover shaft has periodic angular movements,

and a pin wheel to move the star wheel rotating at a rate which varies during a rotation thereof and causing angular movement of the star wheel and the pullover shaft when turning at the faster rates thereof. 4." In an Axminster loom having a pullover shaft operatively connected to a tube frame coni-j veyor system, a Geneva movement including a star wheel operatively connected to the pullover shaft and a rotary pin wheel to move the star wheel, an actuator to turn the pin wheel during loom operation, and elliptic gearing operatively connecting the actuator and pin wheel causingthe latter to have a higher average rate of angular motion when moving the star wheel than the average rate of angular motion of the pin wheel during a complete rotation thereof. 7

5.111 an Axminster loom having a pullover shaft operatively connected to a tube frame con veyor system, a Geneva movement including a star wheel operatively connected to the pullover shaft and a rotarypin wheel to move the star wheel, and actuator means for the pin wheel causing the latter to have a higher average rate of turning when moving the star wheel than the average rate of turning of the pin wheel during a complete rotation thereof.

6. In an Axminster loom having a pullover shaft operatively connected to a tube frame con-- veyor system and effective due to periodic movemerits thereof to cause a step-by-step movement of that part of the system operatively connected to the pullover shaft, a Geneva movement in-"' cluding a star wheel operatively connected to and turning with the pullover shaft and the latter being stationary when the star wheel is stationary, a rotating pin wheel for the star wheel caus ing the star wheel and pullover shaft to move angularly during a given part only of a rotation of the pin wheel, and actuator means for the pin wheel causing the latter to move at a faster angular rate during said given part of a rotation thereof than during the remainder of the rotation thereof. v 3 7 7. In an Axminster loom turned always in the same direction during operation, the loom having a tube frame conveyor system movable forwardly or reversely during loom operation, a motor turn ing always in the same direction during loomoperation, a Geneva movement having pin and star wheels driven by the conveyor system motor and turning always in their same respective directions during loom operation, and reversible driving connections operatively connecting the star wheel and conveyor system. 1 8. In an Axminster loom turned always in the same direction by a driving motor during loom operation, the loom having a tube frame conveyor system movable forwardly or reversely during loom operation, a conveyor system motor, timer means operatively connecting the loom and conveyor system motor and requiring the latter always to turn in the same direction during loom operation, a pin wheel rotated by the conveyor system motor, a star wheel turned angularly periodically by the pin wheel, and reversible driving connections operatively interposed between the star wheel and conveyor system.

9. In an Axminster loom turned always in the same direction during operation, the loom having a tubeframe conveyor system movable forwardly orreversely during loom operation, and includ a star wheel operatively; connected to and turning with the pullover shaft,

ing two sections to be driven, a. motor to drive both sections turning always in the same direction during loom operation, a Geneva movement actuated by the motor, reversible driving connections between the Geneva movement and one of said sections driving the latter periodically either forwardly or reversely, and reversible driving connections between the motor and the other section driving the latter continuously either forwardly or reversely.

10. In an Axminster loom having driving means and a pullover shaft operatively connected to part of a tube frame conveyor system, a star wheel turning with the pullover shaft, a pin wheel for tuning the star wheel, a motor running continuously during loom operation, elliptic gearing operatively connecting the motor and the pin wheel causing the latter to turn at a variable rate with respect to the speed of the motor and effect movement of the star wheel and pullover shaft by the pin wheel at a rate above the average rate of the pin wheel, and timing means controlled by said driving means moving at a uniform rate operatively connected to the motor causing the latter to run at a uniform rate while the pin wheel turns at a variable rate.

11. In an Axminster loom having driving means and a pullover shaft operatively connected to a part of a tube frame conveyor system, a star wheel secured to and turning with the pullover shaft, a pin wheel for the star wheel, a motor running continuously during loom operation, an elliptic gear turning with the motor, a second elliptic gear meshing with the first gear turning with the pin wheel, said elliptic gears effective to cause the pin wheel when turning the star wheel to turn the latter at a rate greater than the average rate of the pin wheel, and timing means between said driving means and the motor requiring the motor to 'run at a uniform rate when the pin wheel is turning said star wheel.

12. In an Axminster loom having driving means and a pullover shaft operatively connected to part of a tube frame conveyor system, a star wheel connected to and turning with the pullover shaft, a pin wheel for the star wheel, amotor running continuously during loom operation, a timing chain operatively connecting said driving means and the motor requiring the motor to run at a uniform rate,and elliptical gearing operatively connecting the motor and the pin wheel effective to drive the latter at a rate variable with respect to the rate of said driving means and motor and cause the pin wheel to turn the star wheel and pullover shaft at a rate greater than the rate of the motor.

WALTER Y. ROBB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 245,259 Crompton Aug. 2, 1881 668,597 Wyman Feb. 19, 1901 677,302 Wyman June 25, 1901 1,116,814 Goodline Nov. 10, 1914 1,256,611 Suther Feb. 19, 1918 1,512,057 Ryon Oct. 21, 1924 2,412,477 Sepavich Dec. 10, 1946 

